Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, Graph Nobel (pronounced No-Bell), knew early on that the arts were her calling; she has performed in theater since her grade school years. The daughter of Trinidadian parents, Graph Nobel grew up on a heavy diet of roots/reggae music. As a teen she disovered hip-hop and started writing and working with various MC’s and producers. Graph’s musical tastes started shifting as she became a fan of Blondie, Prince, RHCP, Bad Brains and Wu-Tang Clan. Following her dreams to New York gave her a chance to see the diverse musical landscapes of the big city. After returning from New York, she hooked up with the producer who would help her expand her musical boundaries. Working with multi-instrumentalist, producer/songwriter Martin ‘Doc’ McKinney (Esthero/ Res / Sting /Hawksley Workman) has allowed Graph Nobel the room to experiment with various genres, bridging the gap between rock, hip-hop and electronica. The two have written and recorded over the past six years in Toronto, Los Angeles NYC and Atlanta, working on their sound which skillfully combines atmospheric guitars, hip-hop beats, heavy bass lines, samples, string arrangements and innovative programming. In early 2002, Graph Nobel stormed throughout Toronto in her trademark big black boots, gathering raves from the press and raising expectations. After playing around Toronto she headed back to New York to play CMJ, Black Lilly and a support gig at The Village Underground where the American music industry took notice. Soon after, Graph Nobel would sign with Columbia/Sony Music, with whom her production company Black Corners Entertainment would also become partners. Graph Nobel’s music is hip-hop inspired with punk rock abandon. Her songs are provocative, full of the challenging themes of love, sex, and life’s struggles.. A gifted songwriter, Graph Nobel has written songs and recorded with Res (Geffen) and Esthero (WB). She’s collaborated with sexy rocker Hawksley Workman on “Smoke Baby†from his critically acclaimed Lover/Fighter (Isadora/Universal) album. She has recorded with various artists including G. Love on “Love†on War Child’s Peace Songs-(Sony Canada/BMG Canada), Artists For War Child with fellow Canadians Jully Black, Esthero & Keshia Chante on “Life†from Much Music’s Much Dance 2004 compilation and BrassMunk/Tone Mason/ G. Stokes on “The Throwbackâ€. The winner of CBC’s Galaxy Rising Stars Award, Graph has built a reputation through her charismatic live shows which started an industry buzz throughout Canada: “She threw out verses in a shotgun, hip-hop fashion, waxed lyrical like Billie Holiday and generally carried on as though limits are for other people†raved Robert Everett-Greene (Globe and Mail). Graph Nobel’s dynamic, energy-filled shows have seen her share stages with heroes The Roots, Sam Roberts, Cody Chesnutt and Metric. She has played CMJ, CMW, NXNE, Edgefest, Montreal Pop Festival and the Toronto Urban Music Festival Graph Nobel’s early press has seen her grace the covers of NOW Magazine, Eye Weekly and The Ottawa Xpress. She’s been featured in The Fader, Essence Magazine, Vice, Chart Attack, Numb, Exclaim!, Peace Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, Word and Honey Jam.
As of late (2007) Graph Nobel has been in the studio working with Aftermath: Dr. Dre, Che Vicious, Mark Batson. BME Click: Lil Jon, Daddy's Girls. Electrosoul Rapgroup: Idle Warship (Talib Kweli and Res). Muja Messiah.Hill of DROWNING GIRL, Simon Wilcox, Camila Grey of UH HUH HER. Currently songwrites, plays guitar and drums with Res in the band Fleetwood Black.
